Shadow Bands

XIX. Aphelion

Lyra's chest heaved rapidly with heavy panting. Sweat built and dripped from her brow and chin. Dirt covered her body, making all of Aeris' efforts to have her clean, in vain. She felt her hair was a mess. Kaelen stood beside her—his breaths shallower, more in control. Not to mention he sustained many more wounds than she did. But a Lycan's healing factor was faster than that of a human, so she hoped no one would notice.

An orange sunset, like a painting in the sky, met all the blue. The shadows cast from the building grew larger and darker. Some knights have retired for the day, while some stayed to observe the candidates.

The old knight halted all activity. All the candidates stood frozen, stopping their violence. "That will be all! Congratulations! Those who remain standing have made it into the knight's academy. Your classes will start at the dawn of the new moon. Your survival depends on your armor. Either find a suitable set or have the armorer craft one for you—your life may depend on it. Dismissed!"

Everyone watched as the knights dispersed back into the building—its windows now glowing with light from the inside.

"That's it?" Said Kaelen.

"We made it, though. I was expecting more of an academic test too, but I guess that works."

"This process is a joke!" Lyra noticed the frustration in weaving into his expression. "Warriors aren't found; they're forged."

"There isn't any need to be frustrated, Kaelen. We're moving on; we'll be knights in no time if that's the case."

"The safety of your people," he said, staring into her eyes. "Luck shields them." But one day your luck will run out. What will happen if war approaches your doorstep and half your army runs away?"

"This kingdom has always protected its people." Lyra felt her anger swirling inside her. Air filled her lungs as she spoke, making it harder for words to spill out. "All these candidates will learn, and so will we. We're not opposed to change, so if you see something you want to change, then change it."

Finally, the air expelled in a deep exhale. His eyes widened with shock at her outburst. But she felt no need to further the conversation. What had gotten into Kaelen to warrant such anger? A question she didn't feel the need to have an answer for.

She stormed away. Kaelen tried calling out to her, but his words fell on deaf ears. A question rose in her as she walked away.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

Lyra's fingertips brushed the smooth surface of the reactor. Trying to understand the functions of magic and science. What did the two have in common? She often asked herself this. There had to be a connection between the two that bridged the massive crevice between them; she just hadn't found it yet. All the results infuriated her, driving her research to a dead end. Then again, Draven's words crept into her thoughts.

"What would you do. . . mom?" she whispered to herself.

She wandered the blue caves under her wreckage of a house, her feet wandering towards the set of armor her mother had left behind.

"I need guidance. . ." She pleaded, hoping for a sign, but nothing came.

She fixated her gaze on herself, whose reflection shimmered on the polished metal. Something about her was different—the way she stared at her felt infuriating, as if she pitied her. Lyra pushed the armor away, her heart racing as it clashed to the ground. She hurried back to her project and plugged in her device into the reactor.

Trusting that the tweaks she made to her side paneling would help develop successful results. Without thinking twice, she pulled the lever, and her machine hummed to life once more. She observed intensely. Everything worked better than the last attempts. The black orb pulsed in and out of reality until it had a steady existence, absorbing light and trapping it in its gravity field.